North Adams Man Pleads Guilty to Child Assault
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Thursday, June 5, Jesriel Morales, 37 of North Adams, pleaded guilty to five charges in Berkshire Superior Court.
The charges are:
- 3 counts of Aggravated Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon on a Child
- 2 counts of Assault and Battery
The incident occurred in 2022. The Defendant assaulted a six-year-old child: slamming the child into a window and wall, hitting them with a belt, slapping them; and then forcing them to kneel on dried rice.
The Commonwealth requested a state prison sentence of 3 to 5 years. The defense sought probation or a suspended sentence. Judge Hodge sentenced the Defendant to 2 ½ years in the Berkshire House of Corrections for the two counts of Aggravated Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon on a Child and two years of probation on and after for the two counts of Assault and Battery. The Judge also placed conditions on Morales including no contact with the victim and an order to participate in the Fatherhood program.
"I am pleased with the guilty plea," District Attorney Shugrue said. "Jesriel Morales preyed on the most innocent member of society. Today my thoughts are with the very young victim. I hope this conclusion provides them (singular) some peace and feeling of safety and security.""
Chief of the Child Abuse Unit, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Giarolo represented the Commonwealth. Kristen Rapkowicz served as the Victim Witness Advocate on behalf of the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office. North Adams Police served as the lead law enforcement agency.
